Boot or shoe sole protector.



No. 553,552. Patented my ID, I900. J. FAULKNEB. 800T 0B SHOE SOLE PBOTECTUB.

(Application filed June 19, 1899.)

(lo Modal.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT 'GFFICE.

JOHN FAULKNER, OF SOOTTDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOOT OR SHOE SOLE PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 653,552, dated July 10, 1900.

Application filed June 19,1899.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN FAULKNER, a citizen of Great Britain, residing at Scottdale, in the county of VVestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Noiseless Boot or Shoe Sole Protectors; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a device for the pro-' tection of the soles of boots and shoes and at the same time rendering them comparatively noiseless in use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a shoe-sole on or to which I show a number of my improved protectors. Figs.'2 and 3 represent a half-sole and a heel-plate, respectively, provided with the same; and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention I provide the parts of the sole to be protected with thin metallic plates 0, 0, c c and 0 These thin plates are placed upon the inner or flesh side of the shoe-sole at the points where the greatest pressure is made-as, for instance, plate a is at the point where the great toe of the foot rests and is constantly exerting-more or less friction, and by such constant wear the leather at that point is worn and spread. This is also the case at the point where the plate 0' is seen. At this latter point the pressure is even greater than at the point a, and hence the leather is made to spread out, making the shoe look unsightly. Thus I place these several plates on the shoe-sole for protective purposes. These plates are preferably plano-convex in cross-section, with the curved surface at the bottom or the side next to the leather to which they are secured. The curved portion is driven into the leather, so that the top will be flush with the surface of the leather, to which they are secured by means of tacks or similar fastening devices. As the plates are secured to the leather dur- Serial No. 721,179. No model.)

ing the process of manufacture, any lateral expansion of the leather caused by embedding the plates therein is trimmed off, and thereafter the sole will retain the shape thus given it when it leaves the hand of the shoe maker.

Fig. 2 shows a half sole B provided with my improved protector.

In Fig. 3 a heel-plate O is shown provided with one of my plates.

Fig. 4 shows how my plates are located rela tively to the outer sole.

These plates will be covered by an insole D in the usual way, and as the several plates are thus covered by the insole the shoe or boot is made noiseless to the minimum degree, for it is the friction between the upper and lower parts of the sole that causes what is known as creaking.

These plates may be made out of aluminium, or common tin-plate may be used. The means of attaching these plates is not material to my invention, as this may be done in many ways.

When boots and shoes are made in this way, by using the plates as described the life and usefulness of the same will be lengthened to a considerable degree, besides giving to the boot or shoe the noiseless feature.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

In a shoe, the combination, with the soles, of wear-plates therebetween, each of said plates being plano-convex in cross-section and arranged with the curved surface embedded in the top of the lowersole and the flat face adjacent to the bottom of the upper sole, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN FAULKNER.

Witnesses:

WM. F. DAWSON, E. G. Yosr. 

